Miracle in the Caribbean: The 3% Survival Feat of "Nacho" Luzardo

 

José Ignacio (Nacho) LUZARDO on the right yesterday (12/19/20205) at Gilespi. Field  in El Cajon, California 

This translation is based on the provided news reports from the Diario Panorama in Maracaibo, Venezuela, regarding the 2001 crash and rescue of Franco Bellarosa and José Ignacio Luzardo.

"MAYDAY" from "YV-1450 P, BE-36"

On Thursday, July 26, 2001, the Venezuelan-flagged aircraft YV-1450 P, a 1978 Beechcraft Bonanza A-36 (Serial E-1220), took off from La Chinita International Airport in Maracaibo (SVMC), Zulia State, at 06:09 HLV (10:09 GMT). It was bound for Providenciales Airport (MBPV) in the Turks and Caicos Islands. The pilots, Captain José Ignacio Luzardo and Franco Bellarosa Cioe, radioed a "MAYDAY" at 07:35 HLV (11:35 GMT) at coordinates 13° 24' 09" N / 71° 03' 00" W while at 1,000 feet above sea level and losing altitude.  

Occupants Located Alive and Floating in a Life Raft

At 12:40 HLV (16:40 GMT) that same day, the two occupants were spotted by a P3C-Orion search aircraft at coordinates 13° 23' N / 71° 11' W. They were rescued alive by a Lynx helicopter from the Dutch Navy warship H.M.S. Van Amstel.  

The Dutch Navy helicopter performed a "miraculous rescue" as the raft tossed in shark-infested waters. The survivors were:  

• Franco Bellarosa Cioe (60 years old), passenger/owner.  

• José Ignacio Luzardo (29 years old), pilot.  

The Survivors Recount the Ordeal

Upon returning to the Maracaibo Aeroclub, the survivors shared their story with the press (Diario Panorama, July 27, 2001):  

"I couldn't die yet because I promised my grandchildren I’d tell them a true adventure when I got back," said a tearful Franco Bellarosa. He credited the survival of both men to the skill of his navigator, "Nacho" Luzardo, during the water landing (ditching).  

The Mechanical Failure:

The accident was caused by an engine failure due to an oil pump malfunction. Although oil was present, it stopped circulating, causing the engine to overheat and seize. Bellarosa noted that only 3% of people survive ditching a small plane in three-meter waves.  

The Pilot’s Perspective:

José Ignacio Luzardo, an experienced private pilot, managed to maintain his calm while reporting the failure to the Aruba communications center. 

"In those moments, you don't think much about anything other than saving yourself," Luzardo said. He suffered head wounds and a knee fracture but focused on the safety of his friend.  

Details of the Rescue Operation

The survivors floated for 6 hours and 20 minutes in a two-meter yellow life raft.  

• The Sighting: At 11:34 AM, a helicopter spotted them and turned on its lights to signal they had been found.  

• The Hoist: A Dutch Navy rescuer descended via rappel to secure the survivors. Bellarosa was prioritized because he was more severely injured (suffering a broken nose and chest bruising).  

• Conditions: Rescuers had to be careful, as the helicopter's rotor wash threatened to flip the small raft in the heavy swells.  

One Month Later: Pilots Stronger Than Fear

In a follow-up report (August 26, 2001), Luzardo recalled the "miraculous" nature of the rescue. The plane hit the water at roughly 120 km/h, a force similar to a highway car crash. The aircraft, including a stuffed Snoopy "co-pilot" toy that Bellarosa always flew with, sank to a depth of 700 meters. Despite the trauma, Luzardo stated he would not stop flying, as it remained his passion.  

The reputation of José Ignacio "Nacho" Luzardo as one of the best pilots in the world was cemented following the accident on July 26, 2001, where his technical skill allowed both him and his companion to survive an impact with the sea at 120 km/h. According to the survivor reports, the cause of the accident was an unusual mechanical failure in the oil pump that caused a total engine loss at an altitude of 9,500 feet. 

In the face of this emergency, Luzardo remained calm, established communication with the Aruba station and other commercial aircraft, and executed a successful ditching in three-meter waves—a maneuver that experts say has only a 3% probability of success under such conditions.

His partner and other experts emphasized that "Nacho's" capacity for control and skill were the determining factors in avoiding a major tragedy, as many pilots crash without understanding what is happening, whereas he managed to glide the aircraft for 10 minutes before impact. 

Despite suffering a knee fracture and head injuries during the crash, Luzardo prioritized the safety of Franco Bellarosa, securing the life raft and coordinating with the Dutch Navy rescuers. 

This feat not only saved their lives after six hours in shark-infested waters but also reaffirmed his passion for aviation, as he declared he would return to flying as soon as he recovered from his injuries.